Since the mid-1960s, the Kansas City-based Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation has been on a mission to advance entrepreneurship and innovation, as well improve the education of children and youth alike. 

Now, they are spearheading the first-ever movement of its kind to push their mission and entrepreneurs under one roof. They’re calling it the Build a Stronger America movement.

More than 10,000 entrepreneurs have joined the movement, which was launched live on September 23, 2009, at the Inc. 500 Conference in Washington D.C. 

In addition to acknowledging the important role entrepreneurs play, supporting fellow entrepreneurs, sharing your success story and striving to give back to your community, you are pledging the following:

The Entrepreneur’s Pledge

I am  an Entrepreneur.

I am  following a dream, pursuing an opportunity, taking charge of my own destiny.

I am  bringing something of value to society, making a job for myself and for others, and creating wealth that benefits my family, my community, my country, my world.

I am  one of a movement of millions of entrepreneurs and innovators who made America great and who will continue to keep our economy going…and growing.

I am  what I am because many people have helped me along on this journey.

Therefore…

I will  tell my story, sharing my successes and failures, so that others taking the entrepreneurial path can learn.

I will  strive to mentor an aspiring entrepreneur.

I will  make my voice heard by those who make policy decisions that affect me and my business.

I will  appreciate and celebrate my accomplishments and the accomplishments of all my fellow entrepreneurs.

I will  give back to the society that helped me to be successful.

I will  build a stronger America.

The pledge, which serves as a way for entrepreneurs to express their cause and business, recently became a major component of the movement on May 13 at the Summit Series conference, also in Washington D.C. 

Thom Ruhe, director of entrepreneurship, said entrepreneurs are the “white noise” of the economy. 

“They’re there but you really don’t pay attention to them,” Ruhe said. “They are definitely noticeable when they are absent.”

And they are key to the economy’s well-being.

“Entrepreneurs are a source of new job growth in this country,” Ruhe said. “They are the source of wealth creation in this country.”*

If you would like to learn more or sign the pledge and join the movement, visit buildastrongeramerica.com.

Here’s a recently-released video from the Kauffman Foundation that captures the essence of the pledge:

*This post was updated on June 24 with a quote from Thom Ruhe, director of entrepreneurship at the Kauffman Foundation.